When Pigs Fly

Having Jim Jarmusch as an Executive Producer should have been warning enough, but even artsy Jim's going-nowhere-slow films (such as Stranger Than Paradise and Dead Man) are riveting compared to this painfully slight effort from director Sara Driver. Written (badly) by Ray Dobbins, the story--or, more accurately, sketch--has ghosts Lilly (Marianne Faithfull) and her young sidekick Ruthie--bound by the rocking chair in which they both died--transported (for no apparent reason except to further the plot) to the home of a down and out jazz musician named Marty (Alfred Molina). In extremely mechanical fashion, Marty comes to terms with the new ghosts and eventually aids Lilly in redressing the mortal wrong done her in life. While Robby Müller's cinematography is easy on the eyes, the script--which is pointlessly peppered with profanities (these are not mob guys, for Tarantino's sake)--is not so generous to the ears. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)